Fluid control valve



Aug. 7,1945.

C. J. KOPP FLUID CONTROL VALVE Filed Aug. 11, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Aug. 7, 1945 I c. J. KO\PP 2,380,974

FLUID CONTROL VALVE Filed Aug. 11, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet v Z8 Z8 .55 64 TY 21 1| I-II 1 55 56' A1 1 6/6 it ozzzezvky .705222'04 M30 55 Patented Aug. 7, 1945 2,380,974 FLUID con-moi. VALVE Carl J. Km, Chicago. m, assignor to Federal Electric Company, Inc., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of New York Application August 11, 1943, Serial No. 498,140

- 6 Claims.

The present invention relates to a novel fluid control apparatus, and also to a novel fluid valve construction especially suitable for use in controlling fluid operated devices such as pistons, diaphragms and other similar devices. Such fluid operated devices are widely utilized for controlling the movement or positioning of various mechanisms or apparatuses such as, for example, the platen of a press, or a bed or a milling or boring machine.

There have heretofore been employed various types of control apparatuses for operating fluid actuateddevices, but in the main such constructions do not lend themselves to relatively accurate and instant controlling.

One of the objects of this invention is to proshowing a position of the parts for effecting raising of the piston element.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view, taken as indicated at line of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a transverse section, taken as indicated on line 5+5 of Fig. 1 showing the friction switch operating mechanism.

Figs. 6 and '7 are transverse sectional views corresponding generally to Figs. 3 and 4 respectively, but showing the parts in a position of adjustment for elfecting lowering movement or the piston element.

Figs. 8 and 9 are sectional views similar to Figs.

- 3 and 4 respectively, but showing the parts of the vide a novel fluid control valve constructed and arranged to permit obtaining constant and uniform speed of movement of the apparatus being controlled.

Another object is to provide a novel fluid control valve which permits obtaining instant and accurate control of movement and/or positioning of apparatus being controlled.

A further object is to provide improved control means for controlling fluid operated mechanisms, actuated under direct manipulation of an operator, and wherein control means is automatically rendered inoperative in the event that the operator disengages himself from physical contact with the control means.

Still another object is to provide a novel valve ior use in controlling fluid operated mechanisms wherein the valve includes a pair of cooperating rotatable elements, one adapted to be rotated by the fluid operated mechanism and the other being rotatable under direct control of an operator.

by virtue 'of which exactand accurate control may be had over the mechanism being actuated. Still a further object is to provide a novel and improved control for fluid operated mechanisms ing drawings in which:

valve mechanism adjusted at a neutral inoperative position.

It may be understood that the improved control apparatus embodying the present invention is equally suitable for use either with gas or lit;- uid and for purpose of illustration it may be assumed that the apparatus as shown, and as hereinafter described, contemplates the use of liquid such as oil.

Referring now to the control apparatus illustrated schematically in Fig. 1 of the drawings, a hydraulic motor is indicated generally at ill, including, an upright cylinder II and a piston element i2. The piston element is provided with a piston rod indicated at l2, connected at its upper end to a vertically movable toothed rack l4, slidably guided in the outer wall of the cylinder. Meshed with the rack i4 is a pinion l6, rigidly mounted onthe outer end of a rotatable shaft Il. Mounted co-axially with the shaft I! is a hand operated shaft l9, and the adjacent ends of said shafts I! and I!) are operably connected to a control valve indicated generally at 2!. Rigidly secured to the outer end of the shaft I9 is a hand operated control wheel 23, by virtue of which the control valve 2| may be instantly adjusted as to obtain accurate control of the movement or posi- Fig. 1 isa schematic illustration of my novel 2 is a vertical axial section through the control valve per se.

Fig. 3 is a staggered, transverse section through the valve, taken as indicated at'line 3-4 on Fig. 2

tioning of the piston element i2 within its cylinder I I. It is to be understood that the piston element, through its rod l2 is operably associated with or connected to the apparatus to be moved or positioned, such as the platen of a press, or the bed of a machine. Therefore, the control of the valve 2| effects instant and accurate control of the movement or positioning of the apparatus to be controlled.

As seen in Fig. 1 of-the drawings, the upp r end of the chamber of the cylinder H' is connected by a conduit 24 to a reversing valve indicated generally at 21. The lower end of the chamber of the cylinder II is connected by con.-

' ments of the control valve 2|.

duit 28 to the control valve 2|. The opposite side of the control valve is connected by a conduit 30 to the reversing valve. Oil is supplied to the system through the reversing valve 21, by a conduit 34 connected to a pump 35, which in turn is driven by a motor 36 for supplying the oil through means of a conduit 38 from a storage tank 39. The reversing valve 21 is also connected by a conduit 40 to the storage tank I! to provide a return passage for the oil from the system to the storage tank. A conduit 4| connects the main control valve with the return duct 40 and serves, as will hereinafter be described, to provide a by-pass for accumulated seepage of oil within the control valve 2|.

The reversing valve is of the spring operated type and normally when free is positioned so as to provide direct communication between the supply conduit 34 and the return conduit 40 so that when the control valve is not operating the fluid is by-passed in a closed system through the conduit 34, reversing valve 21. and the return 40 to the storage tank 39. 'The reversing valve may be selectively adjusted to either of two main operating positions as will hereinafter be described, by means of two solenoids indicated generally at 44 and 45. The respective solenoids areconnected in separate electrical -circuits, each including one of a pair of relativelysensitive, normally open snap switches indicated at 48 and 41 respectively, adapted ,to be actuated by a friction block 50, clamped on the shaft It, as seen in Figs. 1 and 5. When the shaft I9 is rotated in one direction the block 50 rotates therewith until it engages and closes one of the snap switches, and thereby energizes the solenoid connected in circuit therewith, and further rotation of the shaft I! may be made with the friction block arrested against the actuated snap switch. When the shaft I9 is rotated in the opposite direction, the friction block 50 disengages the snap switch previously actuated and effects opening of the circuit controlled thereby, and then engages and closes the other snap switch and thereby closes the other circuit and energizes the other solenoid. The control valve 2| includes a main body 55 provided with a, cylindrical bore 58 in which there is snugly fitted a sleeve 58 formed as an integral extension of the shaft II. is provided with two pair of axially spaced apart ports iii-and 6|, with the ports of each pair disposed in diametrically opposite relation. The ports 60 are disposed in registration with an annular chamber 03 formed in the bore of the body Iiiand communicating with the annular chamber is a port 84 providing direct cinn-' munication with the conduit 20. Disposed in registration with the two ports ii is an annular chamber which is directly connected through the medium of a port 8' to the conduit 3|.

Telescoped and rotatably mounted within the sleeve 58 is an extension portion ill of the shaft is. Said extension portion Ill and the sleeve Bl constitute two cooperating movable valve ele- The extension portion is provided with two diametrically opposite, longitudinally extending passageways or slots 12, the ends of which terminate in approm'mate alignment with the outer walls of the respective chambers 63 and C5. The free or open endof the sleeve 58 has a segmental portion removed therefrom to provide a pair of abutment shoulders 13 and I4, adapted to be engaged by a stop pin fixedly secured in the terminal The sleeve portion 10- of the shaft II, as seen in the drawings. As will be presently described in detail, the control valve may assume either of two main operating positions, with the valve element Ill rotatably adjustable within the sleeve 58, to two positions, 180 apart. Hence the abutment shoulders 13 and 14 are located in such relation as to accommodate 180 of rotary movement of the inner valve element 10 with.respect to the outer valve element It.

The shaft l1, adjacent the closed end of the sleeve, is formed with a stop shoulder l1, and the shaft 19 is provided with a stop collar ll, disposed in abutting enegagement with the end of the sleeve '58. The shoulder i1 and the outer end of the collar l9 are adapted to be engaged by packing nuts 11, threaded into the respective ends of the bore of the valve body so as to maintain the two valve elements 58 and 10 in coopcrating relation, within the valve body.

The closed end of the sleeve 58 is provided with a plurality of bleeder ports 19 which open into a cavity indicated at 80, for accumulating the seepage of oil between the valve elements 58 and 10 as well as between the valve element 58 and the inner wall of the valve body. The opposite end of the valve assembly is provided with a chamber 81 for similarly accumulating oil seepage, and the two chambers and ll are interconnected by a duct 83 which in turn is connected to the conduit 4| for draining oil the accumulated seepage and returning it to the storage tank-39. This arrangement permits disnates the possibility of back ing within the control valve.

Operation When it is desired to raise the piston I! within the cylinder II, for raising a platen or other element, the hand wheel 21 is rotated in counterclockwise direction (when viewed from the right hand end of Fig. 1), an amount, not exceeding one-half revolution and preferably in the range of During such rotative movement the friction block Ill closes the snap switch 4', closing an electrical circuit and energizing the solenoid 44, which actuates the reversing valve and causes it to assume a position of adJustment to complete port registrations for the supplying of oil from the conduit 34 directly into the conduit 30, to the control valve 2|. Simultaneously, the reversing valve completes registration of its ports to provide communication between the end of the conduit 24 and the return duct 40. During such movement of the hand wheel 21 the stop pin 15 will be caused to engage abutment shoulder 13 of the sleeve ii, at which time the two pressures developsets of ports I! and I are in full registration with the respective passageways 12 as seen in Fig. 3 of the drawings. Oil is then permitted to flow from the conduit 80 into the chamber I5 and thence through the ports 6| into the passageways l2 and discharges at the opposite end of the passageways through the ports til, into the chamber 83, and thence into the conduit 28, for supplying the oil to the lower end of the chamber of the cylinder ll, below the .piston l2, and thereby causing the piston element to move upwardly. By virtue of the adjustment of the reversing valve, the oil located above the piston element is free to return through the conduit 24 to the reversing valve 21, and through the return conduit 40, back to the storage tank I. Such upward movement of the piston moves the rack l4 elements 58 and remain with their ports in 3 registered relationshipas seen in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings, the full and constant supply of oil from the pump 35 enters the lower end of the cylinder II for causing a constant, uniform upward movement of the piston. To maintain such a relationship of the ports of the valve elements, the hand wheel 23 must be continuously rotated in counterclockwise direction, to maintain synchronized relationship between the shafts I9 and l|. In order to obtain such continuous movement of the piston, such synchronism is necessary, because after the initial registration of the ports is accomplished by adjustment of the valve, as represented by the sections 3 and 4, and the hand wheel is arrested, the oil causes the piston to be raised and thereby rotates the shaft ll,

through the rack and pinion and causes rotation of the sleeve 58 so as todispose its ports 60 and BI out of registration with the passageways l2.; Hence continued movement of piston may only be effected by maintaining continuous registration of the ports 60 and GI of the sleeve with the two passageways 12, of the shaft extension Ill.

To effect a lowering of the piston and mechanism controlled thereby, the hand wheel 23 is 1'0- tated in clockwise direction (as may be viewed from the right hand end of Fig. 1), first causing the friction block 50 to disengage snap switch 46 so as to permit it to open the electrical circuit which controls the solenoid 44, and then causing the friction block 50 to engage and close snap switch 41, to complete the circuit including the solenoid 45. After 180 reverse movement of the hand wheel, the valve element It! is reversed in the sleeve and the passageways l2 areagain period at a diminishing speed, causing pinion it to rotate in clockwise direction and thereby effecting rotation of the sleeve 58 relative to the valve element 10, until the ports 60 and BI are 5 out of registration with the passageways l2.

l5 ment-shoulders l3 and 14 of the sleeve, as seen in hand wheel be rotated in reverse direction approximately 90, so as to dispose the stop pin l5 approximately midway between the two abut- Fig. 9, with the'ports 60 and 6t disposed in midway relation to passageways 12, as seen in Fig. 8.

It will be apparent that by virtue of the construction described that extremely accurate and exact adjustment may be made of apparatus adapted to be moved or positioned by the movement of the piston l2. While my apparatus may permit of relatively accurate and exact control, I am also able to obtain full use of the hydraulic pressures acting upon the piston. It will therefore be apparent that by virtue of" the novel control and apparatus embodying this invention that a constant fluid pressure is utilized while the volume of fluid may be varied for maintaining R0 relatively accurate control and positioning of elethe shaft [9.

registered with ports 60 and 6| as seen in Fig. 6.

When solenoid is energized the reversing ,valve 2'! then assumes a position of adjustment of its ports for supplying oil directly from the conduit 34 to the conduit 24 for discharging into the up- 4 by, and such movement will be continuous and uniform only so long as proper registration is maintained between the ports of the valve element 5B and the passageways 12 of the valve element 10. To assist in maintaining such registration, the stop pin 1-5 is then held in engagement with the abutment shoulder 14 of the sleeve as seen in Fig. 'l of the drawings. 'As long as rotation is continuously imparted to the hand wheel 23 to maintain pin 1'5 in engagement with abutment shoulder 14, registration of the ports and GI with the two passageways 12 will be' effected and a full and constant supply of oil will flow from the lower end of thefcylinder, thereby obtaining 'a uniform, continuous, downward movement of the piston and the apparatus controlled thereby. If after such initial adjustment of the hand wheel, to disposethe valve elements in registration, the operator disengages himself from the wheel, in such event downward movement of the. piston will continue for a limited be understood as limiting this invention to the merits of other mechanisms or devices.

It is to be understood that if desired the reversing valve could be manually operated, or operated by other mechanical connections with Furthermore, if desired, suitable limit switches may be employed in the solenoid circuits, adapted to open the circuits when the piston or elements being moved arrive at their respective operative limits.

While -I have herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of "my invention, manifestly it is capable of modification and rearrangement without departing from thespirit J and scope thereof. I do not, therefore, wish to precise embodiment herein disclosed, except as I may be so limited by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination, a fluid control valve comprising a body provided with a bore formed with two axiallyspaced apart chambers and a pair of main fluid ports opening into the respective chambers, a pair of oppositely extending axially aligned rotatable shafts, a pair of cooperatingv valve elements connected respectively to the ad- J'acent ends of said shafts and mounted in said bore, one of said valve elements being a sleeve Liournaled in the bore and having a pair of axially spaced aligned ports disposed in registration with the respective chambers, the other valve element being a cylindrical plug telescoped into the sleeve and having an axially extending'passageway, adapted in 'one position of rotative adjustment, relatively to the sleeve, to provide communication between said ports of the sleeve, fluid operated means operable under control of said control valve and including a chamber, a fluid pressure responsive member in the chamber,

. means interconnecting said member and one of said shafts for rotating the latter in response to movement of said member, a reversing valve, a source of fluid supply. a l i p sociated with the source of supply, a conduit connecting 76 said'reversing valve to the pump. a conduit connecting the reversing valve and one main port of the control valve, a conduit connecting the reversing valve to one end of the chamber of the fluid operating means, a conduit connecting the other main port of the control valve to the other end of said chamber of the fluid operating means, a conduit connecting the reversing valve to the source of supply, means responsive to the rotation of the other shaft in one direction for moving the reversing valve to one position of ad.-

justment for causing fluid to flow through the control valve to one end of the chamber of the fluid operating means for moving said member in one direction and simultaneously causing fluid at the opposite end of the chamber to return to the source of supply, rotation of said other shaft in the other direction causing said means to move the reversing valve to another position for causing fluid to flow directly to said other end of the chamber of the fluid operated means, moving said member in the opposite direction, and simultaneously causing the fluid at the said one end of the chamber to flow through the control valve to the source of supply, whereby flow of fluid through the control valve continues as longas said shafts continue to be rotated in substantial synchronism with each other.

2. Incombination, a fluid control valve comprising a body provided with a bore formed with two axially spaced apart chambers and a pair of main fluid ports opening into the respective chambers, a pair of oppositely extending axially aligned rotatable shafts, a pair of cooperating valve elements connected respectively to the adjacent ends of said shafts and mounted in said bore, one of said valve elements being a sleeve journaled in the bore and having a pair of axially spaced aligned ports disposed iniregistration with the respective chambers, the other valve element'being a cylindrical plug telescoped into the sleeve and having an axially extending passageway, adapted in one position of rotative adjustment, relatively to the sleeve, to provide communication between said ports of the sleeve, fluid operated means operable under control of said control valve and including a chamber, a fluid pressure responsive member in the chamber, means interconnecting said member and one of said shafts for rotating the latter in response to movement of said member, a reversing valve, 9. source of fluid supply, a fluid pump associated with the source of supply, a conduit connecting said reversing valve to the pump, a conduit connecting the reversing valve and one main port of the control valve, a conduit connecting the reversing valve to one end of the chamber of the fluid operating means, a conduit connecting the other main port of the control valve to the other end of said chamber flow through the-control valve to the source of supply, whereby flow of fluid through the control valve continues as long as said shafts continue to be rotated insubstantial synchronism'with each other, said last mentioned means comprising two solenoids operably connected to the reversing valve, a pair of separate normally open switches disposed adjacent opposite sides of said other shaft, each switch connected in 'a separate electrical circuit with one of the solenoids, and means frictionally mounted on. said other shaft in position to engage and close one switch and actuate one solenoid when said other shaft is rotated in one direction, and adapted to engage and close the other switch to actuate the other solenoid when said other shaft is rotated in the opposite direction.

3. In combination, a fluid control valve comprising a body provided with a bore formed with two axially spaced apart chambers and a pair of main fluid ports opening into the respective chambers, a pair of oppositely extending axially aligned rotatable shafts, a pair of cooperating valve elements connected respectively to the adjacent ends of said shafts and mounted in said bore, one of said valve elements being a sleeve journaled in the bore and having a pair of axially spaced aligned ports disposed in registration with the respective chambers, the other valve element being a cylindrical plug telescoped into the sleeve and having an axially extending passageway, adapted in one position of rotative adjustment, relatively to the sleeve, to provide communication between said ports of the sleeve, stop means comprising interengaging features on said valve elements for limiting rotation of one element relativelyitothe 7 sponse to movement of said member, a reversing of the fluid operating means, a conduit connect- .ing the reversing valve to the source of supply,.

means responsive to the rotation of the other of the chamber of the fluid operating means for moving said member in one direction and simultaneously causing fluid at the opposite end of the chamber to return to the source of supply, rotation of said other shaft in the other direction.

causing said means to move the reversingvalve valve, a source of fluid supply, a fluid pump associated with the source of supply, a conduit connecting said reversing valve to the pump, a conduit connecting the reversingvalve and one main port of the'control valve, a conduit connecting the reversing valve to one end of the chamber of the fluid operating means, a conduit connecting the other main port of the control valve to the other end of said chamber of the fluid operating means, a. conduit connecting the reversing valve to the source of supply, means responsive to the rotation of the other shaft in one direction for moving the reversing valve to one position of adiustment for causing fluid to flow through the control valve to one end of the chamber of the fluid operating means for moving said member in one direction and simultaneously causing fluid at the opposite end of the chamber to return to the source of supply, rotation of said other shaft in the other direction causing said means to move the reversing valve to another position for causing fluid to flow directly to said other end of the chamber of the fluid operated means, moving said member in the opposite direction, and simultaneously causing the fluid at the said one end of the chamber to flow through the control valve to the to another position for causing fluid to flow directly to said other end of the chamber of the source of supply, whereby flow of fluid through the control valve continues as long as said shafts continue to be rotated in substantial synchronism with each other, said last mentioned means comprising two solenoids operably connected to the reversing valve, a pairof separate normally open switches disposed adjacent opposite sides of said other shaft, each switch connected in a separate electrical circuit with one of the solenoids, and means frictionally mounted on said other shaft in position to engage and close one switch and actuate one solenoid when said other shaft is rotated in one direction, and adapted to engage and close the other switch to actuate the other solenoid when said other shaft is rotated in the opposite direction.

4. A fluid control valve comprising a body provided with a bore having two axially spaced apart annular chambers, and a pair of main fluid ports opening into the respective chambers, a pair of oppositely extending axially aligned rotatable shafts, a pair of cooperating valve elements connected respectively to the adjacent ends of said shafts and mounted in said bore, one of. said valve elements being a sleeve journaled in the bore and having two sets of axially spaced apart. aligned ports disposed in registration with the respective annular chambers, the ports of each set being disposed in circumferentially spaced apart relation to each other, the other valve element being a cylindrical plug telescoped into the sleeve and having two corresponding circumferentially spaced apart axially extending passageways, adapted in one position of rotative adjustment, relatively to the sleeve, to register respectively with corresponding ports of the respective sets in said sleeve, fluid operated means operable under control of said valve and including a member operably connected to one of said shafts for rotating the latter in response to actuation of said means, a conduit connecting one end of said means to one main port of the control valve, a source of fluid supply, a conduit connecting the other main port of the control valve to said source of supply, a conduit connecting the other end of said means to the source of supply, and a, reversing valve interconnecting said last two conduits to the source of supply for controlling the direction of fluid flow through the ports of the conwhereby to control the operation ofsaid means,

and stop means comprising interengaging features on said valve elements for limiting rotation of one relatively to the other in, opposite directions, said stop means being so constructed and arranged as to cause alternate registrations of said passageways with correspondingly aligned ports of said sleeve when the valve elements are disposed at their two respective limits of rotation of one relatively to the other.

5. The combination with a, fluid control system having a source of fluid under pressure and a device t be selectively actuated thereby, of a reversing valve for controlling the direction of flow; of fluid to said device to be actuated, a control valve interposed in said system between said reversing valve and said, device to be actuated, manually operative means for opening said control valve, other means actuated responsive to movement of said device to be actuated for closing saidv control valve, and electrical means actuated by said manually operative means for controlling the direction of fluid flow through said reversing valve.

. 6. The combinationwith a fluid control system having a source of fluid under pressure and a device to be selectively actuated thereby, of a reversing valve for controlling the direction of flow of fluid to said device to be actuated, a control valve interposed in said system between said reversing valve and said device to-be actuated, two valve members telescopically disposed within, the control valve and having ports movable into and out of registry for opening and closing said control valve, manually operative means for actuating one of said valve members for opening said control valve, other means actuated responsive to movement of said device to be actuated for actuating the other of said valve members to close said control valve, and electrical means actuated by said manually operatrol valve, means for rotating the other shaft,

tive means for controlling the direction of fluid flow through said reversing valve.

CARL J. KOPP. 

